The faded papyrus fragment is smaller than a business card, with eight lines on one side, in black ink legible under a magnifying glass. Just below the line about Jesus having a wife, the papyrus includes a second provocative clause that purportedly says, “she will be able to be my disciple.”

The finding was made public in Rome on Tuesday at an international meeting of Coptic scholars by Karen L. King, a historian who has published several books about new Gospel discoveries and is the first woman to hold the nation’s oldest endowed chair, the Hollis professor of divinity.

The provenance of the papyrus fragment is a mystery, and its owner has asked to remain anonymous. Until Tuesday, Dr. King had shown the fragment to only a small circle of experts in papyrology and Coptic linguistics, who concluded that it is most likely not a forgery. But she and her collaborators say they are eager for more scholars to weigh in and perhaps upend their conclusions…..

One Response to Historian: Papyrus mentions ‘wife’ of Jesus

If the disciples complained of Jesus “kissing” Mary, this proves she was NOT his wife. WHY would the disciples complain if Mary was his wife? They wouldn’t, because Jesus would have every right to kiss his wife! These arguments are false. But really enjoyed reading your post…many, many blessings to you…Robin